Machine



June 6, 1944. w. s. REYNMS MACHINE Filed Dec. 23, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet l N INVENTOR Q MRREN '5- firm/up:

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ATTORNEY 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEX I Q; N

June 6, 1944. w. s. REYNOLDS MACHINE Filed Dec. 23, 1940 June 6, 1944. w. s. REYNOLDS MACHINE Filed Dec. 25, 1940 '7 Sheets-Sheet 3 \Q a mi 8 INVENTOR Wen-351v S. fizrmups June 6, 1944. w. s. REYNOLDS MACHINE Filed Dec. 23, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 June 6, 1944. w. s. REYNOLDS MACHINE Filed Dec. 23, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 l I l /07 V/////////// i /05\k I a I26 24 N m r WM N: M w

51 ATTQR EY June 6, 1944.

W. REYNOLDS MACHINE Filed Dec. 25, 1940 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 IIIIH I mr/ Mwww INVENTOR Wnmrc/v 6'. Rnwuos ATTORNEYZ June 6, 1944. w. s. REYNOLDS MACHINE Filed Dec. 23, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 77 illlllll IIIIIIIH Hill ll IlllllMllll INVENTOR N M m k M r Patented June 6, 1944 MACHINE Warren S. Reynolds, Stratford, Conm, assignor to Remingt of Delaware on Arms Company, Inc., a corporation Application December 23, 1940, Serial No. 371,288

9 Claims.

This invention relates to automatic machines and particularly to automatic machines of the turret type.

The automatic machine, provided by the present invention, is particularly effective and advantageous for defining and painting clay targets, and for convenience of understandingis described herein only in this form. However, it should be understood that it is capable of many other embodiments and uses, and that certain of the instrumentalities, such as the tools for performing operations on the work, can be changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Objects of the invention include the provision of an automatic machine capable of: performing one or more operations on pieces of work in an economical and high-speed manner; performing operations on fragile work without breaking the same; feeding work into and/or out of the machine, and to the operation instrumentalities, in a particularly effective manner; initiating and controlling operation instrumentalities in the machine coordinately with the general operation of the machine; definning clay targets and painting certain sections of the same.

Features of the present invention, resulting from attaining the above objectives, include the provisionof an automatic machine having novel: feeding mechanism; loading mechanism adapted to move successive pieces of work into a predetermined station, or stations, in the machine; selecting mechanism which allows only a predetermined quantity of work to pass into the machine, in a step-by-step manner from the feeding mechanism; transferring mechanism, which is extremely simple, for moving work into divers nesting sections in the machine; lifting mechanism for moving work from a loading platform onto work spindles; work holders with cushioned nosepieces; locator rings for easily and accurately positioning work on the work spindles; a plurality of work turrets concurrently operable with or upon a plurality of runs" of product; suction means for holding work upon work spindles at predetermined points and times; mechanism to rotate work spindles only when they are at predetermined stations in the machine; automatically controlled and/r operable painting and masking apparatus: means for dropping work from the work spindles, at certain stations in the machine, and complemental means which may optionally be used for expelling the work from the spindles, at a certain station, or' stations, in the machine; device for turning over pieces of work as they are unloaded or fed out of the machine; driving mechanism, with comparatively few yet effective parts, for concurrently operating the aforementioned mechanisms and instrumentalities; devices for braking or otherwise minimizing I shocks to divers parts of the machine.

Other objects, features and improvements will appear hereinafter.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plane view of a machine embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the machine, partly in section.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a top sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4A is a fragmentary view showing a modification of the escapement of Fig. 4.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary and cross-sectional detail of a part of the indexing and driving mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a detail, partially in section, of a part of the main drive mechanism.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on line I1 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary top view of a modified form of spindle drive.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken on line ill-J0 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic showing of the painting mechanism, and of the electrical circuits.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary view of the outer end of the feeding mechanism.

Before describing the present improvements and mode of operation thereof in detail it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the details of construction and arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawings, which are merely illustrative of the present preferred embodiment, since the invention is capable of other embodiments, and the phraseology employed is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

For convenience, the present machine is described for use in painting and defining clay targets. However, it should be appreciated that it may be used for similar or divers other operations on pieces of work other than clay targets.

Broadly, or in the briefest possible manner, to facilitate a comprehension of the detailed description immediately following, the invention may be described as an automatic machine with a feeding mechanism for carrying a stream of work. such as clay targets, to a loading mecha-' nism. This loading mechanism includes selecting means for allowing only certain pieces of work to intermittently and successivelypass to a loading' platform, and .to transferring and lifting means for moving these pieces'of work to sets of work-holding spindles on a pair of turrets. Next, these pieces of work are held on the spindlesby novel suction means throughout certain parts of the rotation of the turrets. Mechanism and instrumentalities are provided to rotate the spindles -to perform certain operations upon the work when the :turrets are in divers stations. Unloading is accomplished with a simple yet very effective associated mechanism. A simple driving mechanism is also provided for concurrently effecting a conjoint operation of all the foregoing mechanism and instrumentalities.

Referring in detail to the drawings, which show the nowpreferred embodiment, the present in-' vention includes a main frame l4 which is in large part made of angle irons welded or otherwise suitably secured together. In general, the

present main frame includes lower bars IS, IS and I1 extending transversely: of the machine and suitably secured to rearwardly extending bars l3, l3 and I3, herein referred to as a bottom support 23. Similarly, the main frame includes. a top support'2l with transverse bars 22, 23 and 24 suitably ecured to rearwardly extendingbars 26 In its now preferred form the present invention includes a pair of turrets 30 and 3| (Figs.

1-4 and 7) which are alike except for slightly 'diflerenti stationary inner members 33 and 34' each preferably in the form of a casting having I an upper center projection 35 adapted to fit closely between the bars 22 and 23 and to be secured thereto by screws 32. Each inner member 33 and 34 i provided with a lower shoulder 36 and 30 respectively (Fig. '7) adapted to form a support for "suitable washers 31, and each has a main cylindrical section 38 adapted to receive and rotatably support turret heads 39 and 38'. 'flie turret heads merely rest upon the washers 31 so that they maybe rotated readily. Alternatively, or additionally, to lighten and remove load of the turret heads 33 and 39 on the shoulders 33 and 33', a ring; 40 may be secured to the turret heads" and 39' by screws 4i and 'overlie' upper shoulders 42 and 42'.

head ill at its lower end including a nose-piece ii and a locator ring 52. The locator rings 32 have a plurality of integral guide fingers I3 of comparatively narrow width and widely spaced apart so that there is no danger of the same cracking a clay target 54 if a target thereon happens to be warped or nonconcentric. The locator rings are supported for easy vertical movement and against adverse dropping from the machine, as by a plurality of screws 35 secured in each nosepiece 5| entering suitable elongated apertures 56 at several points about the locator ring 52.

Further, each work head at its lower end is preferably provided with a sleevelike gasket. 1

moved against nosepieces 5| of work spindles 43 and are subsequently maintained againstthe same until suction is fully cut in to hold work in the gaskets 51 and work spindles 43. At stations B suitable deflnning mechanisms 60 are yieldingly maintained against the clay targets to remove any fins or the like remaining thereon after the molding operation. At stations 0 suitable painting mechanisms .El are provided to automatically paint or spray a predetermined section of such targets in order, for'example, to provide a bull eye effect upon the same. At the unloading stations D the suction is discontinued to allow work to drop from the spindles, and optionally pressure may be directed to the work heads for force ing pieces of work from the work head if any such pieces are stuck thereon. As described in greater detail hereinafter, these spindles 43 and work heads 50 arerotated at stations B and C and are not-rotated in stations A and D.

The turret heads 33 and 33' (Fig. '7) are.ex-

der; 4-! and 43 preventing adverse vertical movement. Each spindle, has a suitable sheave 43 secured to its upper end, and a suitable work Of particular interest, the present invention provides a very effective vacuum or suction mean 59 for maintaining successive pieces of work against each work. head 50 a predetermined length of time. To this end, and as may be seen best in Fig. 7, each spindle 43 includes a bore 32 extending from the hollow work head 50 and from withinthe gasket 51 upwardly to a nearly central portion thereof, where it is provided with suitable transverse holes 83 merging with a pcripheral channel 64. Thence, radial bores adjacent each spindle 43 extend through the turret head 33 to an inner wall 38' thereof. The peripheral channel 64 insures suction from the radial bore 65 to the bore 62 of each spindle 43, even though the. spindle is rotating. Of importance, the radial bores 65 in the turret heads '33 and 39' become associated with grooves 66 and 31 extending approximately 250 degrees about the face 33 of the inner members 33 and 34, respectively, while these grooves, in-turn, are through For releasing or dropping pieces of work from the spindles 43 and work heads 99, and for discontinuing the suction to the work heads, the grooves 66 and 61 terminate at walls 1! and 12. Thus, as the radial bores 65 sweep from the grooves 66 and 61 over the coextensive nongrooved sections 13 of the section 38 suction is discontinued whereupon work drops from t e work heads. To insure a strong suction at swtions B and C the discontinued sections 13 of the grooves 66 and 61 extend adjacent radialbores 66 when the spindles are at stations A, whereby suction is not lost as the spindles initially move into stations A and while they are in this station until new pieces of work are added thereto.

The grooves 66 and 61 start again approximately degrees from station A. Thus, when spindles 43 or work heads 59 initially leave stations A, suction is transmitted through ducts 68 and 69 to grooves 66 and 61, thence through radial bores 65, peripheral channels 64, transverse holes 63 and bores 62 to securely suck and hold clay targets against the gaskets 51 on work heads 59. Lifting mechanism 14, hereinafter described, is provided to maintain clay targets against the work holders 59 at stations A until the radial bores 65 of the turret heads 39 and 39' move into the path of the grooves 66 and 61.

It should also be particularly noted that the present invention contemplates the provision of means for forcing loaded work from the ma-- chine (Figs. 4 and '7). To this end, the present invention provides a compression line duct which in turn has a radial bore 16 extending rearwardly of the machine for association with radial bores 65 and associated spindle ducts for transmitting air pressure, and thereby expel clay targets from the spindles whenever such spindles are at stations D. The turret heads 39 and 39' and the work heads 59 at the leftand right-hand sides of the machine are exactly alike; the only difference (Figs. 1 and 4) is that the left-hand turret head 39 is rotated in a clockwise direc:- tion. while the right-hand turret head 39' is rotated in a counterclockwise direction. Also, in view thereof grooves 66 and 61 and associated ducts 68 and 69 are slightly differently arranged (see Fig. 4 in particular). These grooves, however, function generally in exactly the same manner in both turrets.

Tunnsr DRIVING MECHANISM In order to effect a coordinate and equal ex-- tent of step-by-step arcuate movement of the leftand right-hand turret heads 39 and 39' (see Figs. 1, 2, 3 and '1), the present invention provides a gear 11 at the upper end of each turret head. Preferably, and as shown in Fig. 7, this gear is in the form of a ring forced upon and/or clamped upon the turret heads as by an annular disc 18 and screws 19. A driver gear 89 suitably secured to the lower end of a shaft 8| vertically disposed in suitable bearings 82 and 82 at the underside of a top plate 83 which is secured to the top support 2i as by screws 84 has a direct connection with the gear 11 on the turret head 39, as may be seen best in Fig. 1. This same driver gear 89 meshes with an intermediate gear 85 suitably supported upon a shaft 86-secured in a boss 81 as by a nut 68, and this intermediate gear in turn meshes and rotates the large gear 11 at the upper end of the right-hand turret head 39. Thus, as the main driver gear 89 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig.

taneous and concurrent clockwise arcuate movement of the latter. Similarly, said driver gear 99,

through the intermediate gear 99 and large gear 11, effects a simultaneous and concurrent counterclockwise arcuate movement ofthe turret head 39.

Innzxmo Mzcnamslr In order to achieve a high rate of production and thereby manufacture or finish clay targets 94 (or other work) in an inexpensive manner, and in view of the large size of the moving parts of the machine, special problems might be involved in accurately indexing the work heads 59 of the turret heads39 and 39' into the successive stations A through D. The present invention provides a novel indexing mechanism 99 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3 particularly) which performs this work very successfully, including a vertical shaft 9| supported'in bearings 92 and 93 and driven by a main drive shaft 94,through a suitable bevel gear connection 95. At its upper end the vertical shaft has a pitman 96 including an arm 91 secured to the upper endof shaft 9i, which arm in turn, through a link '99 and studs 99 and I99, is adapted to oscillate a driver plate I9I each time the shaft 9| and arm 91 thereon is given one complete rotation.

The driver plate MI is freely rotatable upon a vertically disposed sleeve I92 on an index plate I93 and carries a feed dog I94 mounted for pivotal movement upon a suitable stud I95, with the dog normally urged toward the plate I93 as by tension spring I96 (see Fig. 1). The index plate I93 is suitably secured to the shaft 8i as by a conventional spline key I91 or the like, and is provided with feeding and locking notches I98 and I99 respectively. In the present instance, four sets of these notches are provided because the associated turret heads 39 and 39 are each provided with four spindles 43 and work heads 59. As the pitman 96 goes through one complete movementit moves the driver plate I9I from the position shown in Fig. 1 in a counterclockwise direction, whereupon the feed dog .I94 engages with a wall II9 of the feed notch I98 in the index plate I93 to move the latter 90 degrees. Retractlon of the driver plate MI by the pitman 96 results in a repositioning of the feed pawl from the feed notch of the advanced station into the next succeeding feed notch of the index plate I93.

Complemental to the main feed dog I94 and associated indexing mechanism just described in detail, the present invention provides a locking dog III and a backlash pawl II2, as may be seen best in Fig. 1. The locking dog III includes a stop arm II3 suitably pivoted upon the top plate 1, it ngages gear 11 and head 39 to effect simul- 1s 63 as with a stud H4 and is provided with a finger II5 adapted to be pulled into successive locking notches I 99 in the index plate. The driver plate IN is provided with a camming section II6 including a high lobe I I1 which normally engages a roller II9 to maintain the locking dog III free or out of the path of the index plate, as shown in Fig. 1, but alsoincludes a drop lobe' I I6 upon which the roller II9 part on the arm II3 rides and allows the finger H5 to move into the path of a wall I29 in each locking notch I99 to limit counterclockwise rotation of the index plate I93 and associated mechanism each time the feed dog I 94 goes through its cycle of operation. Thus, there is no danger of the index plate I93 and associated mechanism. being subjected to an overthrow or excessive movement.

The backlash pawl H2 is suitably mounted upon the top plate 83 as by a stud I2I and is 4 proportioned to an into the feeding notches m and engage with the wall III of successive feedmay be seen best in Fig. 1, to pull both the pawl H2 and arm IIlconstantly toward the center of the index plate. I I

To further prevent any adverse retraction or advance ofthe index plate- I03 and its-"associated'parts, the present invention optionally provides a brake mechanism I23 (Figs. 1; 2 and 3) including abracket I24, in the form of a U- shaped channel suitably securedto the top plate as within which there is provided a spring- I backed braking member I20,'of a generally L shape, having a leather, fiber or like friction plate I 23 suitably secured on. the underside thereof,-

riding upon the index plate In; To further hold this braking member I 25 within the bracket I24 and to yielding y ,or 'frictionally maintain the friction plate I23 on the index plate; the present invention provides a pair of upstanding studs I21 which are fixed in the top plate 03;]project upwardly throughthe braking member I25, and' each is'provided with a coil spring I20 under nuts I23. by merely screwingthe nut I23 .down or up respectively 'on the studs I21. Cooperating with the foregoing is an underlying friction plate I26 (Fig. 5). a A driver dog I30 issecured'to the lower end of theshaft 3| as by aspline' key I3I and is provided with two pairs of plungers I32 backed by coil springs I33 and adjustment screws I34 (Fig. 6). One pair of these plungers I32 engages opposite sides of a spoke I35 on the driver gear 80 whilefthe other-pair engages a similar spoke I35 at the opposite side of the gear. The "driver dog I30 and the driver gear 00 are su p rted against vertical displacement by bearings 82 and 32'. Although the driver gear" 00 isvfree or rotatable upon section I33 of shaft 3| it is rotated concurrently with theshaft II by the drive dog I30. However, the plungers I32 serve to give the gear Greater or less compression is effected 30 and associatedparts a; cushioned startand stop as the feed pawl Ill engages wall IIO of vof heads 33 and its function in rotating-said heads in a step-by-step manner has been described in detail'hereinbefore. Braking mechanism I23 and the spring-backed plungers I32 of the driver dog I30 all tend tocut down or elimi-- nate shock which might otherwise be transmitted to the gear teeth, feed .dogs' and other parts of the indexing and driving-mechanism, as will be readily appreciated. The spring-backed plungers I32 of the driver dog I30 also'allow a slightly greater than 90-degreemovement of the driver plate I M without overdrivlng the index plate I03 so that movement of the latter is sufllcient'for the stop flnger III' to enter successive notches 10 I03 and for the spindles 43 to properly reach successive work stations A. B, C and D.

7 Wonk-Flume Mscrmnsu A simple work-feeding mechanism I31 (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4) is preferably provided for automatically transporting the clay targets 54, or other work, to the machine from a remote point therefrom. In its present preferred form, this feeding mechanismincludes an endless belt I30 extending around a driver pulley I 39 at the machine which is secured to a shaft I40 rotatably mounted in suitable standards I and I42 afllxed to the bar I5 (or lower support I4) as by suitable bolts. A similar pulley I43 on similar supports may be mounted upon a simple bar extending forwardly of the main frame for supporting the outerend of the belt. I30 and allowing its rotation, or separate long standards I44 may be merely secured to the floor at a desired point in front of the machine. The pulley I39 at the machine is driven through the, provision of a sheave I45 suitably secured to the shaft I40, and the sheave has a suitable connection-I46 with a main driving mechanism I41 still to be described.

The feeding mechanism also includes guide plates I 43 and I43 extending along the sides of the belt I38 and of suflicient height above the beltvto maintain clay targets or other work on the belt and to guide them properly toward the machine. These guide plates are secured to and supported by a bracket I50 suitably secured to the top of the bearingand bracket'block I42 (Figs. 2 and 3). When only short guide plates are used this support is sufllcient. However, when long guide plates arg used it is preferable to .provide the outer extremities thereof with suitable supports extendingto the floor or suitabl secured to the standards I44 for the outer or-driven pulley I43 of the feed belt.

Losnmc Mscrmnsm A novel loading mechanism I 5I (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4) is provided by the present invention, for automatically moving work onto the work heads, including selecting mechanism I52, transferring mechanism I53 and lifting mechanism 14. Broadly, these mechanisms function as follows: The selecting mechanism I52 intermittently allows only two or some other predetermined number of pieces of work to be moved by the feeding mechanism I31 to a loading platform I54 so that there will not be any undue pressure of the line of work on the feeding mechanism against the two pieces 01 work which are to be loaded upon the work heads 50 of the turret heads 39 and 39', and so that the instrumentalities for use in moving such pieces of work are not strained; the transferring mechanism I53 functions to alternately move successive pieces of work first to the left-hand turret head 39 and then the next one to the right-hand turret head from a central position on the loading platform; and, the lifting mechanism 14 serves to move pieces of work from the outer ends of the loading platform upwardly into engagement with locator rings 52 and then to the gaskets 51 on the work spindles 43 and to maintain them thereuntil the suction is cut in and/or passes, for example, from the groove through the radial bore 05 to the work heads 50, to thoroughly hold them upon the work spindles.

: Selecting mechanism 0 Preferably, the selecting mechanism I52 (Figs.

3 and 4) includes an arcuately movable arm I 58 pivoted upon a stud I56 in a bracket plate I51 which is secured to the bottom support 28 with innerand outer gates I58 and I59 respectively at the outer end of the arm, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, which are adapted to pass through suitable slots in guide plates I48 and I49. When the arm I55 is in its most counterclockwise position, as shown in Fig. 4, the inner gate is clear of the work channel intermediate the guide plates I48 and I49 so that pieces of work at the inner end of the belt I38 are moved by the latter successively against a rear or stop wall I68 of the loading platform I54. However, only two such pieces of work may be moved onto the platform because the outer gate I59 at this time extends across a work channel I6I between plates I48 and I49 to intercept movement of any other pieces of work beyond the same, as shown in Fig. 4.

When the arm I 55 is moved into its most clockwire position, as shown by dot-and-dash lines I62 in Fig. 4, the outer gate I59 is concurrently moved fr.ee of the work channel I6I while the inner gate I58 is concurrently moved into the work channel I6I, whereupon two new pieces of work may be moved by the feeding mechanism I31 from a position forwardly of the outer gate I59 against the inner gate I58. As the arm I55 is again moved into the counterclockwise position shown by solid lines in Fig. 4, the inner gate I58 is moved clear of these two new pieces of work and the outer gate I59 is again moved within the work channel I6I to intercept or prevent further movement of work on the feed belt I38. As will be readily appreciated by a mechanic, the inner and outer gates may be of divers lengths and may be placed rearwardly and relatively on the arm I55 the equivalent of one target, whereupon this arm would serve to feed pieces of work one by one to the machine; or, the gates may be placed outwardly and relatively on the arm I55 a greater extent proportionately in order to efiect a feeding of more than two pieces ofwork to the loading platform I54 with each reciprocation or oscillation of the arm I55.

Automatic oscillation of the selector and pusher arm I55 is preferably effected by a cam I63 secured to the vertical shaft 8| engaging with and pushing a roller I64 on a lever I65 suitably pivoted by a stud I66 on bracket I51 at the rear of the machine while a pivot connection I61 at the front of this lever I65 serves, through a link I48 and pivot I69, to arcuately move the arm I55 in a counterclockwise direction each time a high lobe "I on the cam serves to push and maintain the lever I65, link I68 and arm I55 in the most counterclockwise position, shown with solid lines in Fig. 4; whereas, a low section I12 on the cam allows the arm I55 and associated parts to move into its clockwise position, shown by dot-anddash lines in Fig. 4. Movement of these parts into the clockwise position is accomplished by a tension spring I13 having a connection to the lever I65and bracket I14 as by suitable pins.

A modification of the gate or escapement mechanism is shown in Fig. 4A which may be used in place of gates I 58 and I59. The lever 388 is pivoted at 38I and has a block 382 of suitable material, such as rubber, adapted to contact a target. The spring 383 serves to bias the lever 388 to target holding position. At an appropriate time, anend of lever of I55 contacts a portion of lever 388 and releases the target so that the belt I38 will carry them to the positions E and F of Fig. 4, As the lever I 55 oscillates, the spring 383 again returns lever 388 to target holding position to thereby relieve the pressure on the targets that have moved past the escape ment point. It is evident, however, that the machine will function without an escapement means. i

The loading platform I54 is preferably provided near the front center of the machine, with a stop wall I 68v with associated nesting sections I15 and I16 which maybe coextensive with the guide plates I48 and I49 forming the work channel I6I. The stop wall I68 serves as a stop to prevent further rearward movement of pieces of work -in the. machine, and to initially guide pieces of work laterally of the machine toward the loading stations A. Similarly the nesting sections I15 and I16 thereof serve to limit lateral movement of pieces offwork to the left and to the right respectively, and to centralize pieces of work in a position directly and axially underlying work spindles 43 which are in the loading stations A. This loading platform I54, with the integral stop and nesting sections, is preferably substantially integra1 with the guide plates I48 and I49 and is preferablysupported upon brackets I58 secured to the bearing and bracket block I42.

Transferring mechanism Transferring mechanism I53 provided by the present invention serves the important function of automatically moving successive pieces of work into the loading stations A of the left-hand and right-hand turrets 38 and 3|, respectively, preferably, and as shown in Fig. 4,'moving a piece of work at the center position F of the loading platform I54 to th left and moving the next succeeding piece of work to the right. This transferring mechanism I53 includes a' spring finger I18 (Fig. 3) suitably secured to and'suspended from the selector and transfer arm I55 and movable therewith whenever said am is oscillated. Thus, when the arm I55 is moved in a clockwise direction, from the position shown by solid lines to the position shown in dot-and-dash lines I62 in Fig. 4, it engages the adjacent section of the piece of work at the center station of the loading platform I54 and pushes it from this station into the nesting section I 15, and while itis in this station the feeding mechanism I31 moves the next succeeding target from the position E to the center position F (Fig. 4) on the platform I54, whereupon the spring finger I18 engages the adjacent side thereof and pushes it from the central station F into the nesting section I16 as the arm I55 is moved from the dotand-dash position I82 to the solid line position shown in Fig. 4. It remains in the latter position until the next successive two pieces which were in the work channel I6I between the inner and outer gates I 58 and I58, respectively, are moved toward the loading platform I54, or into the positions E and F shown by the two central targets in Fig. 4.

Lifting mechanism I A simple lifting mechanism 14 is provided by the present invention for moving pieces of work from the left-hand and right-hand loading stations within the nesting sectionsI15 and I16 respectively upwardly against the underside of the nose-piece 5|. It includes a pair of plungers I18 suitably supported in bearings I88 and I8I in the bracket I42, as may be seen best in Figs. 2

and 3. When these plungers are in the lowermost position a collar I82 at the lower end thereof rests uponia stop surface I88 in the bracket I42 maintaining top faces I84 of the-plungers I19 flush with the'top face of the loading platform I54. Simultaneous lifting of the pair'of plungers I19 is effected by a lifter arm I85 having a pivot connection I88 on bracket I51 at the rear of the machine (see Figs. 1, Sand 4), said arm having a roller I81 near the center thereoi riding upon a cam I88 carried upon a lateral shaft I89 which is supported bysuitable brackets I90 on the bottom support .20.. This arm is substantially 'r-shaped at its forward end and has .u shaped' fingers .I9I straddling plunger shafts I98 underlying a slidable collar I94, coil springs I95 and fixed collars I98, as may be seen clearly near the lower center of Fig. 2. As a high lobe on the cam I88 lifts the roller I81 and lever I85 into the position shown in Fig. 3 the fingers I9I serve to lift at the lower end of a reduction unit 200'and associated electric motor 20I, thence to an idler pulley 202 mounted upon an arm 208 pivotally secured to the rearwardly extending bar 22 with a spring 204 secured to the arm and bar for 'yieldingly pulling the idler pulley in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, and thereby continually maintain the belt in a taut driving condition. The entire arrangement is such that the belt I98 serves to drive only two spindles 48 in each of the heads 89 and 89' at the definning and painting stations Band C, respectively; and,

\ such that the belt is out of engagement with and does not drive the spindles whenever the same are in the loading or in the unloading stations A and D, respectively. The motor and reduction units 20I and 200, respectively, may be standard units suitably secured to the frame I4 as by bracket 205 and may be connected to any suitable source of current in the usual manner with a conventional switch which will cause the motor 2M and belt I 98 to run continuously while verse pressure will not be exerted against the' pieces of work as they are moved to and held against the nosepieces. Further, whenthe lifter arm I85 is permitted to drop, as by a suitablelow section on the cam I88 coming into engagement with the roller I81, the plungers I19 aredropped into the lowermost position again. This is accomplished partly by the discontinuance of the fingers I9I pushing upwardly against the springs I95 and plungers I19 and partially by the fingers I 9i engaging and pushing downwardly against the, lower collars I82. The weight of the arm I85 as it extends forwardlyand away from'the rearpivot' I88 is suiilcient to cause the same to drop downwardly and remain in engagemen with the cam I88.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that the present invention provides a comparatively simple loading mechanism .I5I which accomplishes the manifold functions of: selecting or passing only a predetermined quantity of work Srmbu-muvnm Mrcimmsus At the deiinmngand painting stations B and c,

respectively,"it is desirable to rotate thework spindles 48, and to this end the present invention provides a simple spindle-driving mechanism I 91,

shown particularly in Fig. 1 and to a lesser degree in Figs. 2 and 3. This drivinggmechanism includes sheaves 48 secured to the upper end'of each of the spindles 48 for receiving'an endless belt I88'which extendato a driver pulley I99 extending arm 289 to the left of the turret '80,

similar to the arm 22 with a freely rotatable sheave 209 suitably supported thereon (replacing the pulley I 99, electric motor "I and reduction unit 200), merely securing the two freely rotatable pulleys 2I0 and2II to the lower side of the top plate 88, and providing an extra sheave 2I2 on the upper part of shaft 9|. With this modified form of driving mechanism it is desirable to use a longer belt 2I8 which will extend over the'sheaves 49 of the four spindles 43 in much the same manner as the belt I98 shown in Fig. 1, over the sheave209', thence around sheaves 2I0 and 2H and to the driver and idler sheaves 2I2 and 202, respectively. This form of the invention has the advantage of displacing the costly motor 2M and reduction unit 200, eliminating the need for electric current to said motor (or disadvantage of any breakdown thereof) and assures concurrent rotation of the work spindles with and whenever the machine is regularly placed in operation.

OPERATION Mrcmmsus Deflnning mechanism The present invention provides a simple mechanism for automatically removing molding fins or other imperfections from the clay targets or the like while spindles 48 and pieces of work of both heads 89 and 89' are in the stalocated in such a manner that the blocks of abrasive 2I8 are yieldingly urged against the pieces of work whenever the same are in the stations B so that fins and like imperfections are removed by tin abrasive as the spindles :8 aniliapieces of work are rotated by the belt I88 assasco Paintinpmechanism. Various standard and well-known paint may be used with the present machine, and thereiore no eifort to show one in detail is included.

herein. A nozzle 2", shown in Fig. 2. is included to 'atically or schematically represent any standard ainting mechanism"; The wellknown Paasche. paint gun No. F600 has been used and performs very satisfactorily in this connection; .The special additional mechanisms provided by the present invention'to make possible the use of such standard paint guns automatically and advantageously .with the present machine from station C toward station Dand when the lever 228 is moved to stop 282-.by spring 28]. r A conventional pawl spring allows the pawl 288 to merely. ride over the ratchet teeth during this return movement. H

include a device 228 (Figs. 2, 4 and 8), one at each station 0, with a large disc 2 carried by a verticalLv extendlnl shaft 222 in 'a bracket 228which is suitably secured to the main frame l8 (one of these will be described in detail It is desirable that the painting occur only for short intervals of time during operation of the machine; for example, only part of the timewhile successive spindles 88 are in stations C and not while the spindles are moving from stations B to stations 0 or'from stations C to stations D. Ac-

cordingly, an electrical control 288 is provided on the bracket 228 for automatically conditioning the ainting unit for only a predetermined extent of' time, while spindles 88 are in stations C.

In its present preferred form this electrical control 288 includes a vertically extending arm 288 pivotally mounted upon a stud 2 in a bracket finger 282 with a-mercury switch 288 in a suitable clamp at the upper end thereof. The lower end of the vertically extending lever is yieldingly urged against side 288 of lever 228 by tension spring connection 288 (Fig. 8). The mercury painting mechanism 8|. The disc 22l which is suitably secured as by-flanges 228 and 228 to the lower end of a spindle 222 i of a diameter and is located in such a position that it protects sections of the piece of work which are not to be reached .by the paint spray; for example, the outer peripheries thereof (see Figs. 2 and 8) The spray of paint from the nozzle 2" is directed upwardly against the underside of the clay target 88 on the spindle in such a manner that the bulk of the spray hits the bottom central section of the target,

while the disc 22l functions to mask or prevent any stray spray from reaching the periphery of the target immediately overlying it.

Preferably, the disc 22l is rotated and cleaned by a scraper or wiper 228, including bladelike sections 228', suitably suppor on, the main frame H, to prevent an adverse accumulation of paint immediately adjacent the work which might otherwise adversely aiiect or obstruct a proper amount of the paint reaching the center of the work. A ratchet mechanism 221 ,arcuately moves the disc 22l step by step each time a loadedspindie 88 is moved into the painting station C, said mechanism including an arm 228 pivotally mounted on a suitable stud 228 at the outer ex'- tremity oi the bracket 228 with a roller 288 adapted to engage locator rings 82 whenever a spindle is in the station 0. A tension spring '28! extending between suitable studs on the bracket 228 and on the forward part of the lever or arm 228 serves to move the lever 228 with the roller 288 toward the locator ring 82, normally until the outer end of the lever 228 engages a stop 282. As a spindle moves into the painting station 0, the ring 82 engages roller 288 to pivotally move the lever 228 about the stud 228 ina direction away from the station C, whereupon side 288 thereof engages a roller 288 on the ratchet arm 288 which has a loose pivotal connection to the top of the spindle 222, and this latter arm in its clockwise movement (Fig. 4) moves a conventional pawl 288 thereon to move an associated ratchet plate switch 288 including leads may be of conventional type.

As a spindle 88 moves into station 0 ring 82 thereon engages roller 288 on the lever 228 to kick the latter in a clockwise direction (Fig. 4),

' whereupon side 288 of lever 228 actuates the ratchet arm 288 to index or move the disc 22l a predeterminedextent arcuately, and concurrently the outer end of the lever 228 moves the lower end of the lever 288 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 8 in order to close the circuit between the contacts in the mercury switch 288 whereupon leads 288 and 288, through suitable wiring (circuit to source of power and to paint gun) actuate the paint gun. However, the mercury switch and the circuit to the paint gun are again opened the moment the spindle moves from station C toward station D and as the roller 288 on the lever 228 rides oil the locator ring 82. This mercury switch may be used to temporarily actuate the electrical driving mechanism for the complete painting unit or may be used to open and close a standard solenoid valve which will open and close'the regular line of air and/or paint to. the nozzle M8, in those instances where the air and/or paint is continually supplied to the paint gun in a conventional manner.

Referring particularly to Figs. 7 and 8, it will be noted that in order to contact the roller 288,

and thereby actuate the paint delivery and the paint scraper, ring 82 must be elevated, to the position shown in section at the left of Fig. 7, by the presence of a target or other work piece thereon. It will be remembered that such a work piece engages and is sealed against the end of rubber ring 81 and is thus held in place, elevating ring 82, by the suction apparatus heretofore described. Thus, paint is delivered only if there is a work piece in position to receive it. If the delivery mechanism heretofore described has failed to place a work piece on any spindle 88 and its ring 82 such unloaded spindle will pas through the painting station without actuatingthe paint delivery. It will also be noted that the depending fingers 88, preferably three in number, act to 28'! arcuately, and the latter moves the conventionally interconnected spindle 222. A coil spring 288 connected to the two arms 228 and and 288 (see Fig. 4) serves to maintain the ratchet arm 288 in engagement with the lever 228 and serves to hold the ratchet arm in a counterclockwise direction whenever rings 82 on spindles 88 move center work pieces on the spindles. 1

Umoannm Mrzcasmsrr I 288 extending respectively around driven sheaves 258 and I 'on a shaft '25! in suitable bearings V a turning plate 2" to reverse the work. This turning plate has a large concave face 282 spaced a slight extent from the sheaves 258 and'25I and of slightly larger contour than the sheaves. It is'held in place by an arm 258 thereon suitably secured to the frame I4 in such a way thatpieces of work carried by the endless belts move to the plate and are gradually turned approximately 180 degrees so that the painted side thereof. which is facing down in the work spindles and as the pieces are initially dropped onto the belts, are faced up when expelled from the machine down a slide 264. 4 a

With this mechanism there is no danger of brushing off some of thewet paint, because the endless belts 248 and 248 are spaced apart enough so that only the painted sections of the clay targets are down within thetwo belts and the unpainted sections thereof rest upon the belts, and because the pieces of work as they are shunted from the conveyor and turning plate 28I down the inclined'surface 284 are turned face up.

- Pieces of work are released from the spindles 43 as they move into the unloading stations D through a cutting-ofl ofthe suction to the spindles as axial bores 85 move out of registry with the suction grooves 68 and 51 in the central members of the turret heads 38 and 38' (see Figs. 4 and '7 particularly). Complemental thereto, in case the cut-oil suction is notenough to allow the pieces of work to drop from the spindle, the present invention provides a duct 18 extending to a suitable source of compression which registers with the axial bores 85 to force work from the spindles to cause a flow of compressed air or the like to'the work holders whenever the latter are in the stations C. r

DRIVING Macmimsn' In its present preferred form the invention provides a driving mechanism I41 including a main drive shaft 94 extending from a main drive pulley 265 at the rear of the machine horizontallytinwardly of the machine through suitable bearings 268 and 251. At its innermost end this main drive shaft is providedwith a sheave 288 and belt ,tional painting apparatus, and/or'to operate the motor 200 for the spindle-driving mechanism I81 briefly only atpredetermined points in the opera- ;ior; ofthe machine (e. g., in place of the switch Another bevelled gear connection 85 is provided near the outer or rear end oi' the shaft 84 to rotate thevertically extending shaft 8 I which in turn op-, crates the indexing mechanism 88, optionally through sheave 2l2 (Figs. 9 and 10) rotates the spindles 48, and which through the cam I88 serves tooperate the selector and transfer arm I55, as described in detail hereinbefore. The driving mechanism I41 and associated indexing mechanism 88 is arranged to, move the heads 88 and 88' arcuately in'a step-by-ste'p manner, 90 degrees each time, and to allow the spindles and work heads to remain in th A, B,

C antlD positions for a predetermined length of time (about the same length of time as it takes to :nove spindle from one station to the next staion).

Cam I83 is proportioned to oscillate the selector and transfer arm I55 to'the clockwise or dot-anddash-line position and back into the solid-line position shown in Fig. 4, as and while spindles 48 are being moved from position C to position D, and. concurrently moves one target into the nesting section I and the other target into the nesting section I18. The gates I58 and I58 are located,

proportioned and moved, concurrently with said arm I55. to allow a new set of work to move from a point forwardly of the outer gate I58 to a point against inner gate I58.

The lifter arm I85 and the cam I88 therefor are proportioned to lift the set of clay targets from the left-hand and right-hand nesting sections I15 and I18 up against the locator rings 51 and nosepieces SI of the work spindles 48 immediately after a new set of unloaded spindles has been moved into the loading station A, and to maintain them in the raised position against the nosepiece until the turret heads are again moved at ,least, a slight extent (approximately 10 degrees), until the ducts 86 and 81 register with the suction channel 85 to thereby enable the suction to maintain the clay target against the nosepiece. 7

Etsc'riucsn Cmcurrs Since the electrical circuits used with the present machine are in the main conventional, detailed description is omitted. However, by referring to Fig. 11 it will be seen that lead 212 of one'legf of source of current 218 may, through leads'214, 215 and/or 218, respectively, be directly connected to motor 28l, conventional solenoid valve 211 and/or conventional painting mechaoperable as described in detail hereinbef ore. Con

currently, also it mayrotate a cam plate 201 on the shaft I88f to oscillate a mercury switch I51 carried upon a bracket plate 218 to control a conventional electric circuit to the standard paint gun apparatus, to operate a conventional solenoid' controlling a valve of'the paint line of a convennisrn motor 218, while the other lead 218 of the other leg of the source of current 218 may, through lead 280, be connected to switch 248 op erated by ring 52 as hereinbefore described, said switch when closed, through leads 28I, 282 and/or- 288, respectively, completing the circuit to the motor 2!, valve 211 and/or painting mechanism motor 218. V

Similarly, the switch 286 connected to lead 218, by lead 284, and operated by cam 201, may, through leads 2 85, 288 and/or 281, be used alternatively, and additionally, to operate said motor 20I, valve 211 and/or painting mechanism motor 218.

IAS just described, it will be appreciated that either of said switches 248 or 288 may be utilized for controlling current to motor 2M, valve 211 s,aso,sce

and/or motor I'll by alternatively omitting leads 2 or 2, respectively: or, both switches may be used each to operate certain of said motor'2ll, valve 211 and/or motor 218, by alternatively omitting leads III or 2", 222 or 220, 2" or2ll.

Switch 20 has the advantage of being near the top of the machine, in a readily accessible location for adjustment, repairs and the like; whereas, switch 2 which is in a less accessible place has the advantage of making possible a greater control over timing of the circuit since a lobe or lobes may be formed thereon to actuate the switch at any point in the operation of the machine.

Orsnarron Briefly (in view of the detailed description of divers parts of the machine hereinbefore), operation of the machine is as follows:

The main driving mechanism Ill is operated by any suitable prime mover connected to pulley 265 whereupon the main driv shaft 9|, through its associated driving connections, cams and the like, concurrently: operates the indexing mechanism 90 to move the turret heads 29 and 39' in a step-by-step manner into stations A, B, C and D; drives feeding mechanism I31 to move work thereon toward and into the machine; oscillates selector and transfer arm I55 once each time one of the spindles 3 on each head 39 and 39' is moved into station A to push work from the center of loading platform I54 into nesting sections "5 and I16, and concurrently allows a predeter mined new supply of work to move to the platform for the next successive loading of the spindles; oscillates arm I85 to lift the pair of plungers I19 with work thereon against spindles 43 on heads 29 and 39' and maintains the same there until radial bores 65 on said heads are moved into registry with suction grooves 65 and Bl; conditions suction means 59 to maintain said work upon the spindles N in stations B and C; rotates successive spindles 42, with work thereon, in stations 13 and C; fabricates or acts upon the work in stations B and C, with operation means, such as the definning mechanism 60 or painting mechanism 6i; cuts oil? the suction to radial bores 65 as successive spindles of heads 39 and 39' are moved from stations C to stations D to drop work from the spindles; (optionally) forces work from the spindles 43 at stations D; conveys work from the machine on the unloading mechanism 241; and turns the work with a turning plate 252.

Alternatively to the braking mechanism I23, or additionally thereto, to restrain excessive indexing movement the present invention provides a second braking mechanism 288 (Figs. 2 and 3), including a brake shoe 289 frictionaliy engaging ring Ill on head 39. Said shoe is provided and located with substantially integral upstanding lugs 290 extending through a bracket 28l suitably secured to tongue 35 on inner member 83.

' Pressure of the brake shoe is regulated by adjusting a screw 292 relative to a plate 293 which rests upon the lugs 299.

Oiling arrangements, painting mechanism, guards, etc., throughout the machine may conform with usual practice and be of conventional design. For brevity and clarity they have, therefore, not been shown in the drawings or described in the specification. It should be appreciated that the automatic machine features described herein can be used for other than clay targets and for other than definning and/or painting operations. The electrical circuits disclosed may be used to operate or control other types of electrical ll apparatus. Also, it will be readily appreciated that more or fewer than four spindles and/or four stations may be provided and utilized. A plurality of turrets 20 and 2! may be provided and utilized, as shown; or, only one turret may be provided and utilized by merely omitting the head M or regulating the selecting mechanism "52 to ,feed one piece of work each time, as described hereinbefore.

Likewise, for brevity and clarity of the unusual main inventive features of the present invention, and because the painting apparatus, solenoid valve and mercury switches may be of conventional commercial type, no detailed showing has been included herein.

It will be apparent that the complete machine comprises many parts and performs many functions, any of which. might be performed separately or in conjunction with operation mechanisms differing from those herein described. For example: the feeding mechanism I31 and loading mechanism IBI may b eliminated and the work heads 50 loaded by hand; the unloading mechanism 241 may also be eliminated and the work unloaded by hand. However, such eliminations make the machine less advantageous.

The description and drawings throughout are directed to representative embodiments of the invention susceptible to many modifications, and since many apparently widely different embodiments of the invention may bemade without departing from the spirit and scop thereof it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments thereof, except as defined in the appended claims, which claims are to be broadly construed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A multiple-spindle turret machine comprising a fixed central support, a turret rotatably mounted on said support, means for indexing said turret, means for driving said spindles, means for loading a spindle in loading position comprising a plunger adapted to transfer and yieldably hold a work piece in contact with said spindle, suction means for retaining said work piece on said spindle comprising passages through said spindle and said turret, and a peripheral channel in said fixed central support adapted to communicate with said turret and spindle passages as said spindle is withdrawn from loading position in the indexing movement of said turret.

2. In a machine of the character described, fixed central support, a turret rotatably mounted ,on said support, a plurality of individually rotatable work holding spindles carried by said turret, means for indexing said turret to move said spindles successively to a loading station, a plurality of operating stations and an unloading station, suction means for retaining work pieces on said spindles comprising passages through said spindles and said turret and a peripheral channel in said fixed central support extending from a point adjacent said loading station to a point adjacent said unloading station, whereby suction applied to each spindle as it moves from the loading station is withdrawn as each spindle enters the unloading station, and means for applying fluid pressure to the passages of said spindles and turret at the unloading station.

3. A work-holding spindle for a multiplespindle turret machine comprising passages for communication with a suction device, a workholding head, a collar surrounding said head and having a pin-and-slot connection thereto, and

5. A work-holding spindle for a muitlple-spinv dle turret machine comprising passages communicatingwith a suction device, and a workholding head comprising a ring member displaceable' by a work piece adapted to hold a workpiece in a position closing said passage, and a sealing gasketadapted to be engaged by a work piece when said ring isthus displaced and said passage is closed by said work piece.

8. In a machine for the finishing of targets,

a rotatable turret, a plurality of rotatable spindles mounted on said turret, means for indexing said turret to move each of said spindles successively through a loading station, a plurality of operating stations, and an unloading station,

meansior centering and holding work pieces onsaid spindles comprising a ring member movably mounted on each spindle anddisplaceable by a work piece thereon, and means for controlling an operation at an operating station actuated by said ring members when in displaced position.

7. In. a machine for the painting .of clay targets, a rotatable spindle, means for moving said spindle to a painting station, a. control member on said spindle adapted for, displacement by a target thereon, painting means, and means at said painting station adapted for actuation by said control member when in displaced position for actuating said painting means.

8. In a machine for the painting of limited areas of a clay target comprising a target holding spindle, means for moving said spindle to a painting station, control means on said spindle movable from a normal position to a displaced position by the presence of a target on said spina dle, paint spraying means, movable means for shielding a portion of the target from said paint spray, and means actuated by said control means for governing the movement of said shield and the operation of said paint spraying means.

9. In an indexlble turret machine for the finishing of targets; a fixed central support; a turret rotatably mounted on said support; a plurality of spindles carried by said turret: means for indexing said turret to move each or said spindles successively to a loading station; a plurality or operating stations and a loading station;

suction means for holding work-pieces on said spindles at certain stations only including a peripheral channel in said fixed central support, means for exhausting the air from said channel, and passages through said spindles and said turret adapted to communicate with said channel;

means for centering and holding work-pieces on said spindles comprising a ring member movably mounted on each spindle and displaceable thereon; and means for controlling an operation at an operating station actuated by said ring members in displaced position.

, WARREN S. REYNOLDS. 

